Shoppers from all over the southwest flocked to Russ DeKay Soccer Complex on Saturday for Roswell’s inaugural Community Yard Sale, perusing items from more than 60 vendors. Vendors from El Paso, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Ruidoso joined local sellers and businesses to raise funds for the Roswell Humane Society, selling food, clothing, furniture, jewelry — everything from microwave ovens and China dinnerware to baseball cards and Star Wars collectables.

Event organizer Enrique Moreno said he came up with the idea for the sale when he learned the Humane Society needed help, [auth] anticipating that a community yard sale would both generate funds and raise awareness for the organization.

“Overall, I think where the success is coming for them is through the awareness,” Moreno said. “We had a lot of people going through their doors because we strictly made it so that people would have to go to the Humane Society for their permits. So people would go there, and just learn where it’s at.”

Moreno said fundraising goals were met early, and that by 9:30 a.m., some vendors had already reached the $600 mark.

“This being our first time and not having funding for advertisements, we’re doing well,” he said.

“Any event for the Roswell Humane Society is awesome,” she said. “Like all nonprofit organizations, we’re having difficulty raising money. And this has been a wonderful event; it’s really a great benefit to us. We hope to do it for two days next year.”

Butts said the sale presented an opportunity for Humane Society members to inform residents of services provided by the organization, which include spaying and neutering, transport, housing and rescue.

Organizers set up a U-Haul truck where vendors could donate unsold items for the Humane Society to sell in their thrift store after the event. Items were also donated to The Salvation Army, Moreno said.

Moreno said vendors went all out for the sale, and that he expects the event to grow.

“It’s really a mix of everything, you can tell people actually went through their homes and pulled as much as they could for this thing,” he said. “And it shows in the mixture and variety in their booths. …

“I think after people came and saw what we did here, next year they’re going to be more involved. I know all of the vendors here have already asked to pre-register for next year’s event in advance. Some want to do this every month.”